A NEW JUDGE FINALLY TAKES A SEAT ON THE BENCH – AFTER A DRAWN OUT FIGHT IN THE SENATE.
HELLO EVERYONE, I’M RICK JACKSON. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS NINE JUSTICES ONCE MORE. DONALD TRUMP’S NOMINEE, NEIL GORSUCH, WAS SWORN IN AT THE COURT BY CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS IN A PRIVATE CEREMONY. THE CONSTITUTIONAL OATH ENDED THE 14-MONTH VACANCY LEFT BY THE UNEXPECTED DEATH OF JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA LAST FEBRUARY. THEN A PUBLIC CEREMONY FOLLOWED -- AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
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JUSTICE NEIL GORSUCH/SUPREME COURT: " I'M HUMBLED BY THE TRUST PLACED IN ME TODAY. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH WILL BE EXPECTED. AND I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL DO ALL MY POWERS PERMIT TO BE A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS GREAT NATION."
THE NEWEST – AND YOUNGEST MEMBER ON THE SUPREME COURT WILL GET STRAIGHT TO WORK WITH HIS EIGHT NEW COLLEAGUES, WHO HAVE BEEN OPERATING SHORTHANDED.
THE SUPREME COURT IS VERY IMPORTANT; BECAUSE THEIR DECISIONS IMPACT LAWS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. WHEN QUESTIONS CONCERNING PARTICULAR LAWS ARISE IN LOWER COURTS, THE JUSTICES WHO MAKE UP THE SUPREME COURT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPLAINING AND INTERPRETING THE CONSTITUTION – AND THEY HAVE THE FINAL SAY. BUT FILLING THIS VACANCY IS NOT AS EASY AS JUST SWEARING GORSUCH IN AND SENDING HIM OFF TO COURT.
AS WE TOLD YOU LAST WEEK, JUSTICE GORSUCH HAD TO FIRST BE APPROVED – OR CONFIRMED BY THE U.S SENATE – BUT THE BITTER RIVALRY BETWEEN THE SENATE’S TWO POLITICAL PARTIES MADE THIS CONFIRMATION IMPOSSIBLE. IT’S BEEN DESCRIBED AS A PARTISAN BATTLE. A PARTISAN IS A COMMITTED MEMBER OF A POLITICAL PARTY, ESPECIALLY ONE WHO IS RELUCTANT TO COMPROMISE WITH THEIR POLITICAL OPPONENTS.
THIS PARTISANSHIP ANGERED SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN:
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: " THE UNITED STATES SENATE WAS DESIGNED FOR US TO COMMUNICATE, FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER, FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE RESULTS AND REPERCUSSIONS OF A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION..”
Instructional Links
Website Article: Newsela, Neil Gorsuch Becomes Newest Supreme Court Justice After 54-45 Senate Vote | May need to sign in. Leveled article with quiz, writing prompt
Website Article: Time for Kids, Trump’s Supreme Court Pick | Biographical info on Gorsuch
Website Article: Congress for Kids, Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court
Infographic: Kids.gov, How the Supreme Court Works | Downloaded pdf
Website Article: Social Studies for Kids, the Filibuster | Explanation & history
Website Article: PBS, The History Detectives, The Filibuster Movement | Background on history of the term